DFC

[HuggyU2]

I saw this elsewhere. Is this legit?

For service as set forth in the following:

CITATION:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Major X, United States Air Force, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as a KC-135R Instructor Pilot, 913th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 384th Expeditionary Operations Group, 384th Air Expeditionary Wing, deployed to a classified location in the United States Central Command's area of responsibility on 13 January 2003 in direct support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. On that date, while flying over enemy territory, his KC-135R aircraft suffered a total loss of a transponder, as well as all control and navigation display systems. Unable to restore the affected systems, Major X demonstrated superb leadership and crew resource management skills by directing the copilot and boom operator to use dead reckoning navigation to arrange a rendezvous with another KC-135R in the area of operations. Major X then coordinated with the responding crew to escort his crippled tanker to a deployed forward operating runway. His outstanding efforts ensured the safe recovery of his aircraft and crew and the completion of a successful and critical combat mission. The professional competence, aerial skill, and devotion to duty displayed by Major X reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Huggyu2

[DEVIL]

[slackline]

Wow! Rough life, poor guy.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[HU&W]

I could see getting a DFC for landing with the gear down, but a transponder? Meh.

[StoleIt]

Not the first time that has happened. A bro had that exact scenario about 4 months back. Met up with a -10 over the boulevard until the damn thing managed to turned itself back on.

[Champ Kind]

Well, when our collective skills have atrophied to the point that they are now, it is actually amazing that they pulled off the above event (harrowing as I'm sure it was) without swapping paint, crashing into terrain, or creating an international incident.

Not an event I'd consider "DFC-worthy", but hey, I wasn't there.

[HiFlyer]

DFC rules are kinda funny anyway. Heck, I know a guy who got one just for flying from New York to Paris!

[HU&W]

DFC rules are kinda funny anyway. Heck, I know a guy who got one just for flying from New York to Paris!

Was that guy your IP at some point before he resigned his commission?

[brickhistory]

He wasn't quite so lucky, or careful, in all his endeavors:

https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3249472.stm

All three sprang from a romance between Mr Lindbergh and Munich hat maker Brigitte Hesshaimer that began in 1957.

With a wife and children in the US, the pilot led a double life for decades.

Technique only.

[Azimuth]

Well, when our collective skills have atrophied to the point that they are now, it is actually amazing that they pulled off the above event (harrowing as I'm sure it was) without swapping paint, crashing into terrain, or creating an international incident.

Not an event I'd consider "DFC-worthy", but hey, I wasn't there.

You're right, DFC worthy would be the Ramstein -130 Nav who diverted her crew around a storm system know as "Italy."

[amcflyboy]

We actually had a Nav call American Samoa a severe thunderstorm and said we should go around it. Crew asked how much gas they have and said that may not be possible, so they decided to land in that "Severe thundersorm" also known as their destination!

Edited February 27, 2013 by amcflyboy

[sputnik]

You're right, DFC worthy would be the Ramstein -130 Nav who diverted her crew around a storm system know as "Italy."

Wait, more detail?

[Jaded]

Shit weather radar that makes precipitation and dry land look the same?

[Champ Kind]

You're right, DFC worthy would be the Ramstein -130 Nav who diverted her crew around a storm system know as "Italy."

Infamous in our community.

[backseatdriver]

Shit weather radar that makes precipitation and dry land look the same?

Not if you know how to use it.

[afnav]

Cool. A DFC for a pilot that did what any decent nav could do in their sleep.

I 'flew' an E-3 over the eastern Pacific for over three hours with an unconscious flight deck. Where's my DFC?

[Spinner]

You're right, DFC worthy would be the Ramstein -130 Nav who diverted her crew around a storm system know as "Italy."

Please don't talk about her...

[LockheedFix]

Infamous in our community.

It actually is not uncommon. I once had a nav try to avoid a storm otherwise known as Thailand. Of course, she was a lesbian and was afraid she was going to Bangkok. <rimshot>

I'll be here all week!

[ThreeHoler]

Cool. A DFC for a pilot that did what any decent nav could do in their sleep.

I 'flew' an E-3 over the eastern Pacific for over three hours with an unconscious flight deck. Where's my DFC?

How did a cockpit go unconscious?

[Azimuth]

How did a cockpit go unconscious?

Listening to the Nav talk.

[DEVIL]

How did a cockpit go unconscious?

Listening to the Nav talk.

(rimshot part 2.69)

[HuggyU2]

Back to the DFC, I'm surprised a commander was able to look himself/herself in the mirror when writing this,... especially the "crippled tanker" part. A crippled tanker. Really. Well,... "crippled" with 4 good engines and flight controls, anyways.

This seems more like what I would expect:

The President of the United States takes great pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Merrel F. Adams, Jr. for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group Twelve, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against insurgent communist (Viet Cong) forces in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 February 1967, Captain Adams launched as Flight Leader of a section of two A-4E aircraft in support of an emergency retraction mission of a twenty-four man, Marine reconnaissance team which was surrounded and temporarily pinned down by a numerically superior enemy force in heavily wooded, mountainous terrain in the vicinity of Chu Lai. A previous helicopter extraction attempt had been aborted due to intense hostile fire from an estimated 130 Viet Cong positioned within 200 meters of the landing zone. Arriving over the besieged area, Captain Adams expertly assessed the situation, selected his approach pattern and pinpointed the enemy positions. Skillfully and without regard for his own safety, he placed his first two bombs directly on the enemy emplacements within 100 meters of the Marines’ position. Commencing his second run, Captain Adams placed two bombs only fifty meters from friendly positions. Continuing his low level attacks with unerring accuracy, Captain Adams silenced one enemy gun position and reduced the volume of enemy fire delivered from the tree line surrounding the landing zone. After expending his ordnance, Captain Adams fearlessly made repeated dummy runs over the Viet Cong positions until the helicopters had safely retracted the entire reconnaissance team. His unwavering determination and complete disregard for his own safety contributed significantly to the accomplishment of an extremely hazardous mission and accounted for an estimated twenty-five enemy killed. Captain Adams’ exceptional aeronautical skill, resolute courage and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of extreme danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.

[HerkFE]

I put an aero club 172 in a field once when the engine gave up the ghost. Didn't put a scratch on it. I must have been on some type of order that day since I was still wearing my bag. Maybe I should submit for one.

[check6]

As he looked down from his A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft 2,000 feet above an American convoy motoring through a town in south central Afghanistan, Lt. Col. David Dressel saw all hell breaking loose...

The controller called for a “gun run,” but Dressel descended and determined the convoy was too close to the enemy for him to fire his jet’s 30mm cannon. The friendly troops were 30 meters from the enemy, well inside the 65-meter “danger close” range, meaning the convoy’s proximity to the enemy possibly could result in 10 percent friendly casualties.

“I wanted to get as close as I possibly could to minimize how big a spread the cannon would have, so that meant I had to take a fairly close shot,” Dressel said.

Within 97 seconds of the first enemy fire, Dressel descended to within less than 200 feet of the ground and executed his attack, followed by his wingman...

https://enidnews.com/localnews/x797269745/Pilot-receives-DFC

Edited February 28, 2013 by check6

[afnav]

How did a cockpit go unconscious?

It's actually pretty easy when you're flying out of Howard during Carnival. My room was on the building side vs. the street side. They party until 0500 and then start back up again at 8. No one got any sleep for two weeks except on the plane.

The co swore he had his eyes open under his sunglasses.